Chapter Ten The Final Secret

  Pacifying the world, moving the capital to Beijing, revising the great code, communicating with Southeast Asia, awe-inspiring the four seas, pacifying Annam, suppressing Mongolia.

  This is the main political achievement of Comrade Zhu Di. In the first decade or so of his rule, he worked tirelessly and made many achievements, which earned him a reputation as a great leader of his generation.

  He did many things that few emperors in history had done, but he didn't feel the slightest fatigue, because in Zhu Di's mind, power was his driving force at work. With power in hand, he was like taking a stimulant, and power had become a kind of poison for him, inseparable from him for a moment, and no one could take it away.

  People like him seem to have no friends and are unlikely to have any.

  But Zhu Di still has friends, in my opinion, at least one.

  Farewell

  In the sixteenth year of Yongle (1418), third month, Beijing Jingfu Temple.

  Zhu Dian walked into the temple with hasty footsteps, he wasn't here to worship Buddha, his purpose for coming here was to bid farewell to someone, to bid farewell to a friend.

  At the age of eighty-four, Yao Guangxiao was too weak to get out of bed to greet his friends. His long military career and extremely heavy staff work had exhausted all his energy. The conspirator who was over sixty years old but still full of ambition disappeared, replaced by a helpless old man lying in bed.

  At this time, Yao Guangxiao felt a lot of emotion. The encounter in the 18th year of Hongwu (1385) not only changed Zhu Di's life but also his own destiny. From then on, he served this ambitious man, came up with all sorts of clever plans, and made great contributions. Living together, eating together, working together (rebelling should also be considered a kind of work), and cultivating deep feelings for each other, Zhu Di had actually become his friend.

  It's no wonder, for ambitious people are generally plotters.

  After Zhu Di ascended to the throne, Yao Guangxiao also suddenly transformed from a poor monk to a rich one. He could ask Zhu Di for houses, carriages, beauties, gold and silver treasures, and Zhu Di would certainly satisfy his demands. Because as the first meritorious minister who helped him win this empire, he was fully qualified to do so.

  But he doesn't want anything else.

  The gold and silver rewards were returned, the palace maidens were sent back, the houses and mansions were returned, he did not keep a single hair, still shaved his head to attend court, after returning home changed into monk's robes, lived in the temple, continuing to be a monk.

  His purpose in rebelling was only to achieve his own ambitions, and once they were achieved, he would be content. Moreover, he was also very clear that his "friend" Zhu Di was not a good person at all, and he absolutely would not tolerate someone who knew too many of his secrets and was smarter than him staying by his side.

  So he hid himself and just wanted to live a peaceful life.

  Looking back on his life, there is not much comedic color. In his middle and young age, he was not successful, and it wasn't until he was 60 years old that he started his own business, which was still the rebellious industry that made him anxious every day without labor insurance. Even after the rebellion succeeded, he couldn't show off too much, and could only continue to eat vegetarian food in the temple. Moreover, he didn't have any hobbies like smoking, drinking or visiting brothels. It can be said that his life was really not interesting at all.

  He plotted to overthrow a regime, and participated in the rebuilding of another regime, but did not gain anything. In some people's eyes, he was just a conspirator who earned a reputation as an accomplice to evil, and this life was lived in vain.

  His tragedy is not just that, his previous behavior was just for its own sake, and it can't be said to be a bad person. He had also advised Zhu Di not to kill indiscriminately, although he did not succeed, but it can also be seen that this person is not cruel and bloodthirsty.

  But this cannot alleviate his notorious reputation, for he is after all an unrighteous rebel inciter. How others see him doesn't matter; what pains him the most is that even his only kin and close friends by his side also scorn him.

  In the eighth month of Yongle 2 (1404), Yao Guangxiao returned to his hometown of Changzhou. At this time, he was already a senior official in the imperial court and had been appointed as Taizi Shaoshi. This was vastly different from his previous downfall, and it could be said that he was returning home in glory. However, something unexpected happened.

  His parents had passed away, and his closest relative was his sister. He rushed to his sister's house, hoping that his own flesh and blood could share in his glory. However, his sister refused to see him (sister did not accept). Having no choice, he went to visit his old friend Wang Bin from his youth. But Wang Bin also did not want to meet with him (Bin also did not see), only sending someone to bring two sentences to him. These two sentences were concise and profound, deeply expressing Wang Bin's feelings towards him:

  The monk is wrong! The monk is wrong!

  Yao Guangxiao finally experienced the taste of being abandoned by all, although he was poor before, but at least he still had relatives and friends. Now that he has the power in his hands, wearing official robes, the people around him have left him one after another.

  What he heard and saw gave Yao Guangxiao a great shock, from then on, except for going to work during the day, he spent the rest of his time hiding in the temple, living a life similar to that of an ascetic monk, as if to reflect on his past behavior.

  This life tempered his body, but also brought him longevity. This monk, who was only seven years younger than Zhu Yuanzhang, actually lived to be eighty-four years old in one breath. If he had struggled for another breath, it is estimated that even Zhu Di would not have outlived him, and he might have broken Zhang Dingbian's record.

  But all of this was just a hypothesis, and now he lay on his bed looking at his friend Zhu Di.

  Zhu Di's complex emotions also focused on Yao Guangxiao. For someone like him who rose to power through rebellion, the thing he feared most was another rebellion. So he tightly grasped the power in his hands, suspicious of anyone who approached him, yet this person before him was the sole exception. This mysterious monk helped him seize the throne without taking a single penny for himself, and was low-key in his actions. He understood Zhu Di's temperament, character, and every move, with a level of cunning that even surpassed Zhu Di's own, yet he never revealed it, always keeping to the proper measure. What a clever person indeed!

  Only such clever people can be friends with Zhu Di.

  In their last meeting, they talked a lot. It's strange that they all discussed some national events. Yao Guangxiao didn't mention his personal affairs at all, which seems normal too. After knowing each other for decades, they understood each other very well, and there was nothing to talk about in private matters.

  Zhu Dian was well aware that Yao Guangxiao was no longer in a good state, and as someone who always had a clear purpose in what he did, he wouldn't be looking for him to discuss national affairs at the end of his life without a reason. He must have some request to make.

  Zhu Dian and Yao Guangxiao continued their conversation like old friends, but in the depths of their hearts, they were both waiting for the final moment to arrive.

  The words were finally spoken, and the two fell into silence.

  Yao Guangxiao finally spoke up, and he made his last request in life:

  "Please release Yu Qiaobo."

  Zhu Dian was silent.

  As expected, he indeed made this request.

  What kind of person is Yu Xie, that Yao Guangxiao would still be so concerned about his safety at the last moment of his life?

  Yu Xian's personal safety isn't that important, it's just that this person is hiding a secret, hiding an answer that Zhu Di has been searching for over ten years but can't find.

  This secret is about the whereabouts of Jianwen Emperor.

  Sixteen years ago, a great fire destroyed the imperial palace and also erased all traces of Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen. By the time Zhu Di led a large team of firefighters to the scene, all that was left for him was a pile of rubble and an awkward situation where no one was seen alive or dead.

  From then on, the whereabouts of Jianwen Emperor became his biggest worry. In order to find out the answer to this question, Zhu Di tried every means to find people everywhere, and as long as there was any clue, he would seize it tightly.

  At this time, someone informed him that another person knew where Jianwen Emperor was. This person was Yu Qian.

  Yu Kua was the chief Buddhist monk of Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen. It is said that at that time, he arranged for Zhu Yunwen to escape. Although it is a rumor, this person had a close relationship with Zhu Yunwen and may have known his whereabouts.

  Zhu Di was overjoyed when he heard the news, and immediately had Yu Xian thrown into prison. As for whether or not Zhu Di tortured Yu Xian, or how Yu Xian responded, history has no record, so we naturally don't know either. But one thing is certain: he didn't get what he wanted from Yu Xian's mouth, because it wasn't until twenty years later, just before his death, that he finally found the answer to his question.

  But from then on, Zhu Di began to see the light of day with difficulty. He was not only a special political prisoner but also an absolute political prisoner who would never be released. The reason is simple: if he didn't reveal Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts, he wouldn't be released. And if he did, Zhu Di would definitely not release this informed person from prison. According to Zhu Di's character, it was very likely that he would kill him to silence him, and thus put an end to the matter once and for all.

  Unless something unexpected happens, Pu Hui will spend the rest of his life in prison.

  But something unexpected happened now.

  Zhu Di knew the weight of Yao Guangxiao's request, and Yu Hui was not someone who could be let go. But this was after all his old friend's last wish in this life, and it was really hard to make a decision.

  Yao Guangxiao gazed intently at Zhu Di, who was silent in contemplation. He knew that the emperor before him was deep in thought, preparing to make a decision.

  "Alright, I promise you."

  Yao Guangxiao was relieved, he had personally witnessed countless people dying under his own conspiracy, from Fang Xiaoru to Huang Zicheng, the brutal crimes of slow slicing and extermination of families had happened right in front of him, he had tried to stop them but was powerless. Although these people did not die directly at his hands, he was indeed the mastermind behind it all.

  Although he is not a good man, he is not an inhuman devil either. The cruel political struggle and the loss of loved ones made him reflect on his actions, many people died because of him, but he lived with guilt.

  So in the last moments of his life, he made this request.

  Not for the sake of saving others, but for the sake of saving his own soul.

  Yao Guangxiao, who had finally found spiritual liberation, also obtained physical liberation. On March 18th, Yao Guangxiao died of illness at the Qing Shou Temple in Beijing at the age of eighty-four.

  The greatest conspirator of the Yongle era finally left the world with a smile, he paid a lot but seemed to have gained nothing. He spent his first half life striving for his ideals, and his second half life living in solitude with guilt.

  In any case, everything was over for him.

  Zhu Di kept his promise and released Pu Heng, not out of mercy but because of a commitment to an old friend.

  The throne has been seized, the capital has moved, the grand ceremony is over, Nanyang has been toured, Annan has been pacified, and the Wala Tartars have no more tricks to play.

  The last of the old friends has also left.

  The play has been performed up to now, and it's almost over. When he was 31 years old, Zhu Di led a rebellion and finally seized the world. After that, he began his own reign and created an era of his own.

  In these long and short decades, he did what he should do, and he also did what he shouldn't do. But overall, he is indeed one of the few emperors in history with great talent and vision.

  Any of the political achievements listed above is difficult to achieve and do well, but he has completed all of them in just over a decade.

  It's really not easy for him to have become an emperor at this point.

  With such achievements, Zhu Di should have been satisfied, but in fact, he was not. Every day he sat on the throne, every night he slept in the palace, there was one thing that always lingered in his mind, like a nightmare that could not be shaken off, nor cut off.

  Yes, Zhu Di, with his grand vision and bold plans, thought about this matter day and night, fearful of it.

  Zhu Yunwen, are you dead or alive? Where are you now?!

  Zhu Dian, you don't have to wait much longer, you will know the answer soon.

  In the 20th year of Yongle (1422), Aruytai, who had been subdued before, began to cause trouble again. He led his army in a large-scale attack on the Ming dynasty's border, with the intention of just making some small gains and plundering, thinking that the Ming would not take him seriously. This theory might have worked on others, but unfortunately for him, his opponent was Zhu Di, who never compromised.

  Zhu Dian heard that the younger brother who was defeated twelve years ago was disobedient again, and didn't say much. Although he was already fifty-five years old at the time, his brave and fierce personality had never diminished.

  I'll beat you until you're satisfied!

  In the same year, in March, Zhu Di personally led an expedition again. The army marched towards Datong, and all the way, they did not encounter any significant resistance. By July, the army arrived at Shahu Yuan (place name), close to Alutai's lair.

  What consequences will Arutai's non-resistance policy bring?

  The answer is no.

  Arutai did not resist because he was unable to resist.

  This man, who once vowed to restore the Mongol Empire, has transformed into a petty thief, only capable of robbery and causing trouble. He has no way to repel his enemies, and his only response is to flee with his wife and children.

  After flattening the old nest of Arughtai, Zhu Di prepared to return to the court. Since at that time Wuyanha Sanwei and Arughtai had already colluded with each other, Zhu Di decided to take the opportunity to teach this former subordinate a lesson on his way back.

  He ordered his troops to advance westward and said: "Wulaxi knows that our army is coming, and they must retreat westward. Let's wait for them there."

  His subordinates looked at each other in dismay, how did you know which direction they retreated?

  But as the emperor spoke, naturally they had to listen, and the army immediately turned westward. In August, they arrived at the Chila River, where they encountered the Urianghai army and tribes.

  Wulangha was extremely panicked, while Zhu Di was very excited. According to the current retirement system, he had already reached the age of retirement. Although according to his rank, he should be a department-level cadre or above, and it is estimated that he can still work for a long time. However, in Chinese history, emperors who personally wielded knives at his age were extremely rare.

  At the time of encountering the enemy, he drew his sword and stood up to his horse, at the age of 55, led the cavalry to charge into the enemy formation again, and defeated Wulaiha (beheaded hundreds, and the rest fled).

  After that, he led his army in pursuit and swept away the lair of Wuliangha, only then did he return home with a satisfied heart.

  Judging from Zhu Di's various behaviors and experiences, he is a man who loves war and is intoxicated with war, a born warrior.

  Heaven did not treat this emperor who liked to fight and loved war unfairly, just one year later, he launched another expedition against the Tatars, but the reason for this expedition was very strange, it was clear that he was looking for trouble.

  In the seventh month of the twenty-first year of Yongle (1423), border generals reported that Arughtai might possibly attack the borders. Originally, this was just an ordinary border report, but Zhu Di didn't say a word and immediately prepared to personally lead a campaign.

  Everyone has said that it's just a possibility, and since the border is able to receive intelligence, they must have made preparations. Why does Your Majesty need to take action personally?

  Even if Arutai really wanted to attack the border, he would probably say: "I haven't made a move yet, even if I fight it's just a small fight, why are you making such a big fuss?"

  In fact, Zhu Di's motive was very simple:

  To be honest, I just want to beat you up, what can you do about it?

  It seems that the policy of striking first is not invented by a certain big country today, this is the common law used by all strong powers in history.

  In the same year in August, Zhu Di made his fourth personal expedition. When Aru Tai, a thousand miles away, received the news, he immediately began to pack up and prepare to flee. He had become accustomed to playing the role of fugitive and grasped the rules of action and behavior for this role - you come and I run, safety first.

  This was an unsuccessful expedition, as Aruytai escaped very thoroughly, and Zhu Di didn't catch anything, so he had to withdraw his troops and return to the court.

  Although this expedition was fruitless, Zhu Di gained an unexpected gift during the journey, a gift that was worth more than a city to him.

  This gift is the answer he has been searching for in vain for twenty years.

  The Final Answer

  Hu Miao finally came back.

  Sixteen years ago, he accepted a secret mission and traveled alone to the two lakes and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, visiting large and small temples, just to find out about Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts. Over the course of ten years, he exhausted his efforts but had no results.

  Hu Mian was very clear that Zhu Di was not a person who could be negotiated with. Since he accepted this task, his fate had only two outcomes: either find Zhu Yunwen or continue searching until he died and someone else took over.

  No companions, no friends, unable to confide in anyone, Hu Meng had been searching for over a decade. During this time, he never returned home, not even when his mother passed away, as he was not allowed to return home until his mission was complete.

  Zhu Di was not a stingy person, he deeply understood the hardships of this work. In the 14th year of Yongle (1414), he finally summoned Hu Qiaoming back and appointed him as the Left Servant of the Ministry of Rites, promoting him from a small Give Things to the second-in-command of the Ministry of Rites in one go. Hu Qiaoming became an object of envy for many people, but only Zhu Di and Hu Qiaoming himself knew that all this was just a reward for Hu Qiaoming's secret work.

  After ten years, Hu Mu was unable to find Zhu Yunwen and had to return to court to serve as an official.

  Does this person really still exist? Maybe I'll never find him in this lifetime.

  Three years later, an appointment shattered Hu Miao's fantasy.

  In the 17th year of Yongle (1419), Zhu Di ordered Hu Yan to patrol Jiangsu and Zhejiang again. This appointment seemed ordinary, but in fact it was another start of searching. We have reason to believe that this time Zhu Di had obtained accurate intelligence, and Zhu Yunwen was indeed in this area!

  We must find him!

  But Hu Yan went again for several years without any news, and this time even Zhu Di almost lost confidence.

  Hu Mian has been searching, Zhu Di has been waiting. Twenty years have passed, the appointment of two young people has become the appointment of old people. Zhu Di's body is getting worse day by day, and he may not be able to wait for much longer. But the appointment continues, and it must continue.

  Just as it seemed that Zhu Yunwen was about to be written off as forever missing, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

  The suspenseful question that had lasted for twenty years was finally answered on a mysterious night.

  In the twenty-first year of Yongle (1423), on a deep night, Zhu Di was sleeping in his temporary palace (the emperor had already fallen asleep) when an imperial attendant suddenly came to report that someone had come to have an audience.

  Zhu Di was very unhappy about being woken up, which is a common human feeling. Even ordinary people don't want to be startled awake from their dreams while they're fast asleep. But when the eunuch mentioned the name of the person who had come to see him, Zhu Di's sleepiness immediately disappeared as if he had been electrocuted. He ordered that this person be summoned at once. And the person who had come to wake Zhu Di in the middle of the night was none other than Hu Miao. (Upon hearing that Hu Miao had arrived, he hastily got up and summoned him in.)

  Zhu Dian's heart was filled with excitement, anticipation, and fear. He was well aware that without his orders, Hu Miao would never have dared to return on his own. And now, since Hu Miao had come uninvited in the dead of night, there could only be one reason - he had found that person.

  Hu Bin met with Zhu Di and told him everything he knew. The two men talked for a long time. (They spoke frankly, and by the fourth watch, Hu Bin left... only then did his doubts begin to dissipate.)

  Many people will ask what they actually talked about and what is the answer to this mysterious puzzle that has been hanging for twenty years?

  I must tell you with great sorrow that I don't know either.

  To be honest, I'm also ashamed to say this now, but Hu Miao didn't deceive Zhu Di after all. Although he made Zhu Di wait for 16 years, he did bring him the answer in the end.

  From the time I started talking about this enigma, to now that the enigma has ended, countless historical events have intervened, and a very long time has passed, but in the end, I still cannot give you all a definitive answer.

  To be honest, it seems that this can't be blamed on me. As mentioned earlier, this article is written after collecting various historical materials and analyzing them personally. Although some notes and miscellaneous records from the Ming and Qing dynasties were also used, the main basis is still the official historical records such as "Ming Shilu" and "Mingshi".

  I'm not a timid person, but such a major historical mystery is really not something I dare to fabricate, and since there's no basis in the historical records, I naturally can't write about it either. However, everyone doesn't have to be disappointed, because although I can't provide a conclusion, I can deduce one through reasoning.

  It should be known that historical materials are dead, but people are alive. One of the responsibilities of historians is to discover living secrets from past dead texts.

  Now let's start this reasoning and strive to discover the truth hidden behind history. In this process of reasoning, we will get three inferences:

  Firstly, from the above record, we can know that Hu Bin's mission was indeed to find Jianwen Emperor, and Zhu Di was woken up in the middle of the night and was so excited. The reason has been analyzed before, unless he had already completed his mission, Hu Bin would not have dared to leave his post without permission.

  From this we get inference 1: Hu Yan completed his mission and brought news of Jianwen Emperor.

  What exactly did Hu Yan say to Zhu Di?

  This seems to be an unanswerable question, but actually as long as we grasp some clues on the basis of inference 1 and make some reasoning, we can know what they talked about that night.

  Hu Bin visits late at night, what will he say to Zhu Di? There are several possibilities:

  A: I didn't find Jianwen Emperor, nor did I get any news about him. Coming to disturb you so late is just to tease you.

  Conclusion: Impossible.

  Reason: Zhu Di would not entrust such an important task to someone who is mentally unstable.

  I found out where Jianwen Emperor was, but he's already dead.

  Conclusion: The possibility is smaller.

  Reason: Although I was not present at the time, I can infer that Hu Bin did not tell Zhu Di this sentence, because there is a very crucial sentence in historical books that can prove my inference:

  "Accordingly, all that I have heard is hereby set forth; after leaking out for four quarters of an hour, it will be published."

  Look, "leaked out four drums and then came out"! If someone is already dead, even if you are a coroner, it's impossible to talk for so long. Hu Yan was a calm and taciturn person, carrying an absolute secret mission, absolutely not a person who likes to talk nonsense, so we can infer that what he told Zhu Di should not be these things.

  We thus arrive at our final conclusion c.

  I found Jianwen Emperor and had a conversation with him.

  Conclusion: Very likely.

  Reason: The above two inferences are both incorrect, this is the most likely conclusion left.

  In this way, combining historical data and using the method of exclusion, we arrived at a second inference.

  Hypothesis 2: Hu Mu found Jianwen Emperor and had a conversation with him.

  Combining Inference 1 and Inference 2, we finally arrived at the end of this puzzle - what did Jianwen Emperor say to Hu Yan?

  This seems to be something that we absolutely cannot know, and even what Hu Bin said to Zhu Di, we can't confirm, how can we understand what Jianwen Emperor said to Hu Bin?

  Actually, if you analyze it carefully, you will find that we can know it.

  Because of what Jianwen Emperor said to Hu Muo, it must be the content of the conversation between Hu Muo and Zhu Di!

  Hu Bin was not the kind of official who had nothing better to do than to look for people to chat with after eating his fill. He had an important mission and he had to complete it. After finding Jianwen Emperor and talking to him, he would definitely tell Zhu Di all the conversation content, because this was the most important part of his task. So we can be sure that what Hu Bin told Zhu Di on that mysterious night was exactly what Jianwen Emperor told Hu Bin.

  Now that we have made it clear, as long as we know the content of Hu Bin and Jianwen Emperor's conversation, we can understand the content of Hu Bin and Zhu Di's conversation. So what did Hu Bin and Jianwen Emperor talk about?

  It can be certain that they will not discuss the weather, prices or other issues. In those years, apart from paying respects and exchanging pleasantries with Emperor Jianwen, Hu Yan's conversation would inevitably revolve around one topic - your plans.

  Your Majesty, you're still alive, so what exactly do you want?

  We have reason to believe that Zhu Yunwen gave Hu Miao an answer.

  And on that mysterious night, Hu Yan told Zhu Di exactly this answer.

  What was Jianwen Emperor's answer after all? This also seems to be a secret that we can never know.

  However, in fact, we can understand this secret because the answer to this secret is our third inference.

  The key to unlocking the secret is still in the historical records - "When it is doubted, then it is explained".

  Finally free, thoroughly free. Twenty years of doubts, worries, expectations, guilt and fear all vanished into thin air that night.

  It should be noted that at the same time, we can also infer that when Hu Yan spoke with Zhu Di, Jianwen Emperor was still alive.

  Because Hu Yan was a civil official, he was later appointed as the Minister of Works for his great contribution in this matter and became one of the five ministers who assisted the future Xuande Emperor. During the search process, in order to keep it confidential, he worked alone, and a person like him could not commit murder. His visit to Zhu Di at midnight also fully explained that before that, he had not reported any news about Jianwen Emperor to Zhu Di.

  Of course, after the conversation, whether Zhu Di will send someone to cut the grass and remove the roots is also hard to say.

  However, I am willing to believe that Zhu Di did not do so. In my opinion, he is not a person who exterminates human nature. His cruel behavior was just to guarantee his throne. Now more than 20 years have passed, and he has also become an old man, and got the answer, he should also give up.

  Conclusion 3: Answer.

  "Twenty years have passed and I don't want to fight anymore. Just be your emperor in peace, I just want to live on by myself."

  I believe this is the final answer, because only such an answer can calm down the controversy of more than 20 years and completely dispel the fear of these two people.

  The one sitting on the throne is liberated from spirit, the one hiding among the people is liberated from flesh.

  I won't argue with you anymore, be a good emperor then.

  I won't look for you again, just live a peaceful life as an ordinary person.

  This uncle-nephew struggle finally came to an end. For power, these relatives turned from suspicion to hatred, and eventually to armed conflict, with the uncle ultimately defeating his nephew and seizing the throne.

  But things didn't end there, the person who ascended to the throne had great power in their grasp, yet they were always on edge, fearing that one night they would wake up and lose what they had just gained, just like the previous failure.

  It's not scary to have nothing, what's scary is to lose it after getting it.

  The person who was driven out was even more miserable, he had to abandon his life of luxury and wealth, hide among the people, never ask about worldly affairs again, and also avoid being pursued by those in power, only to hide his name and surname, just hoping to continue living.

  This cruel mental and physical torture lasted for twenty years, more than six thousand days and nights of torment, enough to drive anyone mad.

  Having gained power seems to have gained everything, but in fact many people do not understand that in the game of power, you have no chance to rest. Once you join in, you must keep playing until you fail or die.

  Gained a lot, but lost more.

  That is the price they have to pay, whether they are successful or not.

  Once on this road, there is no turning back.

  Fated to Die on the Expedition

  In any case, Zhu Di finally got his release, although it came a bit late, but at least he won't be taking this question to his grave.

  It's also a blessing from heaven, because if this answer had come one or two years later, Zhu Di would have only been able to see his father with regret. However, now he can finally spend a few comfortable days without worries.

  Zhu Di's spirit was finally freed, and the days that followed should have been relaxing and pleasant for him, but this was probably also heaven's last gift to him, as the god of death had quietly approached him.

  In the first month of the 22nd year of Yongle (1424), Aruytai began to resume his old business, robbing and harassing along the border roads of the Ming Dynasty in Datong and other places. At this time, Zhu Di's body was already much worse than before, but in order to thoroughly solve the problem, he still reluctantly rode on horseback and led the army out for the fifth time.

  Even if not for yourself, think of your son and help him clean up his enemies. Only then can he be at ease as the emperor in the future. Even if you don't leave much inheritance, give him a peaceful life.

  The love of parents from ancient times to the present is generally like this.

  Zhu Di chose a few ministers to accompany him on the expedition, and among those he chose was one who would play an extremely important role not long after.

  This is Yang Rong.

  In June, the army set out and arrived at the Daranamur River, where Arutai used to roam, but now it was deserted. The habitual robber Arutai had long since packed up his bags and fled in a hurry.

  After repeated searches, Arutai's whereabouts were still unknown, but Zhu Di's body was getting weaker by the day. The ministers had a disagreement:

  Zhang Fu said that he was willing to take a month's worth of rations for himself and lead the army deep into the desert, determined to bring back A Lutai.

  Yang Rong said that the army had arrived here, and if they continued to stay, the grain and grass would inevitably be insufficiently supplied, and they must withdraw as soon as possible.

  Zhu Di listened calmly to their debate and issued an order:

  Class meeting.

  He was also tired, from following the famous general on expeditions since his youth, to suppressing rebellions in his young age, and then going far away to Mongolia, sweeping across the vast desert. After fighting for decades, killing countless people, the life of galloping on the battlefield made one feel spirited and proud, but it also made one exhausted and unbearable.

  Let's just go home.

  In July, the army arrived at Cuimigang, and Zhu Di, who was bedridden with illness, summoned Yang Rong for a final conversation between them.

  Zhu Di said, "The Crown Prince has been tempered for many years and is already very familiar with government affairs. After I return, I will hand over the great power to him, and I myself will live out my later years in peace and quiet."

  Yang Rong was overjoyed in his heart, but did not show it. He responded: "The Crown Prince is loyal and righteous, he will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations."

  Zhu Di, who was plagued by illness, smiled. He had seized the throne and defended it; now his son was capable enough, and the Ming Empire would surely become even stronger in his hands. He could finally enjoy peace and quiet.

  But Zhu Di did not think that he could no longer go home.

  It's possible that Heaven also learned from Zhu Di's style of doing things to the extreme, and he was destined to let this emperor who loved war and fighting end his life on a military campaign.

  After the army arrived at Yumu River, Zhu Di's body, which had been propped up all along, finally collapsed, and he died in his military camp at the age of 65.

  Sixty-five years ago, the infant born in the flames of war went through countless storms and finally found his own haven on the journey, gaining eternal peace.

  In my opinion, dying on an expedition is indeed the best way for him to end his life, and this legendary emperor ended his life in this way.

  It seems to be a fate, born in war and died on the expedition.

  As usual, I should give this emperor an overall evaluation. In fact, there are many versions of evaluations on this legendary emperor in the previous Ming historical materials, and I think the best one is the comment from the Ming history.

  Although the Ming History has many errors and problems, at least in the evaluation of Zhu Di, in my opinion, there is no better historical material. I rarely quoted ancient texts before, mostly just quoting a few words to illustrate the origin, but this passage is really a divine work. In the following chapter, I wanted to write my own evaluation, but I dare not imitate the master's style, so I quote as follows:

  "The Emperor Wen was young and long practiced in arms, occupying the strategic land of Youyan, taking advantage of Jianwen's weakness, advancing deep into the interior, and soon possessing all four seas. After ascending to the throne, he personally carried out frugal policies, reporting on floods and droughts morning and evening, and relieving those affected without concealment. He knew people well and assigned them tasks appropriately, understanding both the surface and underlying situations, with military strategies matching those of his ancestors. The six armies repeatedly went out, clearing up the dust in the north. By the end of his reign, his prestige and virtue had spread far and wide, with all four directions submitting to him, and more than thirty countries coming to pay tribute under his clear orders. His achievements were brilliant and resounding, truly magnificent! However, at the time of the revolution, he acted contrary to expectations, and his shame cannot be concealed."

  Its vastness is beyond the Han and Tang dynasties! Its success is magnificent and outstanding, indeed!

  Well said! It's enough to make one smile all the way to the Nine Springs!

  He is not a good man, but he is an unqualified good emperor.

  Midnight Conspiracy

  Zhu Dian ended his legendary life and finally passed away. The dead have no more worries, nor do they need to consider things like power, money, or prospects, but the living must think about these things.

  Under the sorrowful and resentful clouds after Zhu Di's death, a hidden undercurrent was lurking. Different interest groups were quickening their pace of action, competing for the most valuable legacy left by Zhu Di - the throne.

  As early as when Zhu Di set out on his expedition, his good son Zhu Gaoxu had already foreseen that his father might soon be gone. He intensified his planning and sent his own son Zhu Zhanjun to lie in wait in the capital, using fast horses to transmit messages, with seven or eight batches of people coming and going to report overnight. In those years without telephones, it was really hard for those who reported the news.

  Zhu Gaoxu dreamed of the throne, but he was well aware that he had to confirm his father's death after rescue efforts were exhausted before making a move. If the situation wasn't clear and he rebelled prematurely, his old man might suddenly come back to life or be resurrected, appearing in front of him and saying: "You little scoundrel, wanting to learn from your father how to rebel!"

  No need to fight, it's already a lost cause.

  In front of Zhu Di, a master of rebellion, Zhu Gaoxu's Tao was still too shallow.

  So he waited patiently for the arrival of that news.

  Zhu Di's inner servant, Ma Yun, was an unremarkable person who usually appeared impartial. However, at this moment, he also revealed his stance. After Zhu Di's death, he convened a midnight meeting with two people in the capacity of an inner servant. These two people were Yang Rong and Jin Youzi.

  The three of them conspired and made the decision to temporarily not announce the emperor's death, and every day on time send food to the emperor to deceive people's ears and eyes, and strictly control the news, prohibiting people in the military camp from secretly going out to report the news.

  Some people may ask that after the emperor's death, since Shang was still on an expedition far away, wasn't it a usual arrangement to keep the news secret? Why is it said to be a plot?

  Because this seemingly ordinary arrangement actually hid a mystery, before Zhu Di's death, the trusted ministers he summoned were not these two people, but Zhang Fu!

  Zhu Di summoned Zhang Fu before his death and conveyed the edict to pass on the throne to the crown prince, which seemed to be nothing to worry about, but the problem lay in Zhang Fu himself.

  Zhang Fu was the son of Zhang Yu, and Zhang Yu and Qiu Fu were closely related to Zhu Gaoxu. They were all comrades-in-arms during the Jingnan campaign, and on the issue of establishing a crown prince, the Jingnan faction supported Zhu Gaoxu.

  Ma Yun gathered Yang Rong and Jin Youzhi to secretly discuss such a major decision, but Zhang Fu was not present, which is very unusual. It's clear that they were being cautious.

  It turned out that their worries were not unfounded, because on the eve of Zhu Gaoyu's rebellion a year later, the insider sent to the capital was Zhang Fu.

  After the blockade message, Yang Rong was given the most important mission - to return to Beijing to report the funeral to the crown prince and prepare for the crown prince's succession. This secretly hidden member of the Taizi Party finally had a chance to show his skills, day and night, and finally delivered the will in time to the crown prince.

  Zhu Gaoxu was kept in the dark from start to finish, and by the time he found out about the news, the Crown Prince had already made all necessary preparations and ascended to the throne.

  Mr. Zhu Gaoxue, you didn't guess correctly again. Take a lesson from this and come back next time, you still have one more chance.